Teaching the Progressive Era

The United States has experienced so many dynamic changes throughout its rich history. One of the most transformative periods was the Progressive Era, from the 1890s to the 1920s. During this time, the United States had to respond to the challenges posed by rapid industrialization, urbanization, and social issues. Ultimately, teaching the Progressive Era must address these concerns while showing how people had to work hard to improve society. Thankfully, there are many excellent resources to bring learning to life for students! 

Progressive Era Project  

The Progressive Era was full of rapid industrialization and contributed to cities, population, and wealth growth. Since all of these are intricate and essential details, it is crucial that students explore many aspects. Thankfully, this resource has everything needed! There is a list of topics with included reading. This includes Jane Addams and The Hull House, W.E.B Dubois, and Lincoln Steffens and the Shame of the Cities. After completing their assigned reading, students will create a PowerPoint project or video slideshow. There is even a rubric for easy grading. 

Progressive Reform Lesson 

When teaching the Progressive Era, there are many areas to consider. So, this resource addresses many issues, including social, temperance, prohibition, women’s rights, and African American rights. Students will complete hands-on activities that foster critical thinking and curiosity. 

Progressive President Lesson

The presidency is one of the most challenging jobs to have in America. So, this resource shows students the challenges presidents faced during the Gilded Age. There are engaging activities, note-taking exercises, and a historical analysis. Students will be so excited and curious as they dive into each aspect of the lesson. 

The Gilded Age Progressivism  

It is crucial that students learn critical thinking skills. Luckily, this resource is the perfect way to do this! Students will gain a deeper understanding of the Progressive Era and the complex issues of the Gilded Age. There are activities, projects, Google Slides, handouts, and rubrics. There are even answer keys for easy grading. 

Defining Progressivism Activity 

This is the perfect lesson when teaching the Progressive Era! Specifically, it illustrates to students how “slippery” the term Progressivism actually is! So, it shows that while it is a good term to generalize a scattered era of history, it has flaws. Students will learn this through several primary sources before deciding if the era was truly progressive after studying the definition. Honestly, this is a great way to tie in argumentative writing from ELA! Students will love this opening activity when beginning a new unit. 

Teaching the Progressive Era requires many aspects. It needs to address rapid industrialization while explaining why this caused hardships. Additionally, learning needs to be relevant for students to help them understand how the past impacts the present. Thankfully, these fantastic resources do exactly that! Students will love exploring this intricate period and gaining more appreciation for the USA. 

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